Bottineau County, North Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegians in Bottineau County were Knut Aamot from Nord-Fron and Hans Svingen and Peder Svingen from Vågå, Gudbrandsdalen. They settled in the Turtle Mountains in 1883. Other settlers from Gudbrandsdalen followed them, and the settlement therefore became known as Gudbrandsdalen. In 1884, John S. Sæter from Nannestad, together with Ole Horneman, C. Gorder, and L. C. Gorder, settled in the vicinity of Bottineau. They were followed by Jacob J. Dalen from Lesja, Gudbrandsdalen; Iver Listue from Fron; Elias Gulstad from Steinkjer; and Sivert Haugen, whose birthplace is unknown.

Settlement near Willow City

The first Norwegians in the Willow City area were Olaus, Edward, Fredrik, Ludvig, and Andrew Shervem, who settled there in 1884. The parents of the Shervem brothers were from Hedmark. They were followed by Ed Svensrud, Anton Egge, Christian Enversen, Andr. Strømval, O. Glomseth, Johannes Krogen, and Ole Krogen. These settlers spread over a large area.

Markets and Transportation

Devils Lake was the nearest market for the new settlers, about one hundred miles away. They hauled wheat and whatever other products they could spare there and purchased their supplies in return. These journeys were difficult for both the oxen and their drivers.

Churches and Congregations

Turtle Mountain Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was established at Souris in 1890 and belonged to the United Church. It was apparently the first Norwegian congregation in Bottineau County. The congregation built the county’s first Norwegian church in 1897. By 1905, Bottineau County had nineteen Norwegian congregations and fourteen churches. Eight congregations belonged to the United Church, six to the Norwegian Synod, two to Hauge’s Synod, two were independent Lutheran congregations, and one belonged to the Methodist Church.

Public Office

Anton Svendsrud was the first Norwegian to hold public office in Bottineau County. He was elected County Judge in 1896. He had earlier been the first Norwegian from the county elected to the State Legislature, in 1889.

Norwegian Place Names

Norwegian place names in Bottineau County included Bjelland, Dokken, Eidsvold, and Thor.

Sources:

[Ulvestad, Martin. Nordmændene i Amerika. Utg. History Book Company's Forlag. Minneapolis, Minn. 1907.]